Can Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5 (Eyeseryl) Really Reduce Puffy Eyes?

Can Eyeseryl treat puffy eyes?

I hope so, cos I can’t believe you still have to put cucumbers onto your eyes to make your puffiness disappear.

It’s 2024. Surely we should have a more advanced treatment by now? I mean, what the heck have cosmetic scientists been doing all this time?

Well, there’s something. A peptide called acetyl tetrapeptide-5. Nickname: Eyeseryl. It’s the latest scientific discovery in the fight against puffy eyes and undereye bags. Does it really work?

I’m always sceptical about peptides yet eager to try new solutions for puffy eyes. So, in true Beautiful with Brains style, I delved into the science and then tried the peptides. Wanna know what I found out?

Here’s everything you need to know about the benefits of Eyeseryl for puffy eyes, its potential side effects (does it have any?), how to use it and so much more:

What Is Eyeseryl?

Eyeseryl is the trade name for Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5. To be precise, Eyeseryl is composed of Water, Butylene Glycol, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5. It’s a four amino acid peptides.

Peptides are “small chemical compounds composed of short-chain amino acids, which are the building blocks of protein,” explains board-certified dermatologist Jennifer Herrmann. 

They’re too big to penetrate skin, but there’s some initial evidence they don’t have to get deep to work. They work simply by telling skin cells how to behave. Each peptide is different, so let’s focus on Eyeseryl for now:

Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5/Eyeseryl Benefits: What Does It Do For Skin?

Lipotec, the company that makes Acetyl tetrapeptide-5, swears it “can fight puffy eyebags by working on several mechanisms, like improving the vascular system and strengthening the skin under the eyes preventing fluid accumulation.”

You know me. I don’t think manufacturers lie, but you can’t take anything they say as the gospel. Sometimes, they just make ingredients sound better than they are, know what I mean. So, are these claims true? Let’s take a closer look at the science.

Let’s start with the skin strengthening claim. Eyeseryl does it by inhibiting glycation. Glycation is what happens when you eat too much sugar. Sugar reacts with fats and proteins in an abnormal way, producing something called “advanced glycation endproducts” (or AGEs for short).

Long story short, AGEs destroy collagen and elastin, the proteins that keep your skin firm and elastic. Eyeseryl stops this in its tracks. It hunts down proteins involved in the glycation process that are looking for their mates to finish this process. When it spots one, he attaches itself to it. Now that place is taken, that protein can’t bind to its nasty mates and cause glycation.

Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5 fights another cause of puffy eyes: water accumulation. Plenty of things can cause this, but the main culprits are poor lymphatic circulation and high capillary permeability. Eyeseryl decreases the permeability of blood vessels in the eye area. Now fluids can’t accumulate there anymore. Bye bye puffiness!

Related: I Went On The Low Glycemic Diet And It Transformed My Skin

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Let’s Put It To The Test: What Science Says

So far, Acetyl Tetrapeptide sounds awesome. But I’ve told you only what Lipotec says. I’m not saying they’re lying, but they aren’t… unbiased.

Unfortunately Lipotec also did the only study I could find on Eyeseryl. A group of 20 women used a cream with 0.01% Eyeseryl for 60 days. 70% saw a reduction in puffy eyes after only 15 days.

The study is promising but I won’t rush out and buy a cream with Eyeseryl until independent studies prove me it works. But if a cream I’m eyeing also happens to have Eyeseryl, then why not?

Can Eyeseryl Really Treat Puffy Eyes?

It depends. Puffy eyes can have several causes. One of the biggies? Fat accumulation that happens as you naturally get older. If that’s the case, Eyeseryl (or any other ingredient, for that matter) CAN’T treat your puffy eyes.

BUT, if your puffy eyes are due to water accumulation, Eyeseryl may be able to help. Some people only see a mild improvement. Others see a significant improvement. You won’t know how well it works for you until you try it.

Eyeseryl Side Effects

Eyeseryl is generally considered to be safe. Said that, always do a patch test first – just in case. Especially if you have sensitive skin.

How To Use It

You’ll usually find Eyeseryl in eye creams and serums. Gently pat them onto your eye area with your ring finger. It’s the gentlest. Follow up with a good moisturiser.

Best Products With Eyeseryl

• 111SKIN Cryo De-Puffing Eye Mask ($110.00): A set of 8 eye patches enriched with soothing ingredients to reduce puffy eyes and hydrate skin. Available at 111Skin, Dermstore, Sephora, Skin Store, and SpaceNK
• Masktini All-in-One Eye Cream ($63.00): A rich cream with Hyaluronic Acid, antioxidants, and peptides to hydrate skin and reduce both dark circles and puffy eyes. Don’t expect miracles, but it’s worth a try. Available at Dermstore and Skin Store

The Bottom Line

Eyeseryl is one of the most promising new actives in the fight against puffy eyes. But the jury’s still out there on how well it really works. For now, don’t waste your money on it – unless it comes in products with other actives. That way, even if it doesn’t work, you’ll still get benefits, know what I mean?

About Gio

Hi, I’m Gio. I’m a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is skin coach and writer on a mission to help you achieve your best skin day ever – every day. I bust skincare myths and debunk marketing jargon to help you figure out what’s worth the splurge and what’s best left on the shelf – using science, not hype. I also offer skincare consultations to help you create the best skincare routine for your unique needs.